This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). It is an UPDATE to a previous episode from March 2024. That was Chronicle 72: “Suspension Sparks Murder.”

In that episode, I told you the chilling story of Sydney Powell, a college student at the University of Mount Union in Ohio. After being placed on academic suspension for poor grades, Sydney's defense claimed she suffered a psychotic break, which led her to brutally attack and kill her mother, Brenda Powell. But prosecutors argued—and successfully proved in Sydney's September 2023 trial—that she was fully aware of her actions when she beat her mother with an iron skillet and stabbed her nearly 30 times with a steak knife. The jury ultimately found her guilty of murder, and a judge sentenced Sydney Powell, then 23 years old, to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years.

You might think that would be the end of the story—a conviction, a sentence, and justice served. But as we know, court cases rarely end there. Appeals are a huge part of the process, and in December 2024, an Ohio appeals court made a surprising move: they REVERSED Sydney Powell’s conviction for her mother’s 2020 murder.

I’ve got all the details about that shocking development and where the case stands today coming up next week, on Monday, March 24.

But before we get to that bombshell update, I wanted to make sure you’re fully caught up on the case. So today, I’m re-releasing the original episode from March 2024. Listen now to hear the full story.

Today’s episode is rated a 2 on our Serious Crime Scale—but stick with me, because that scale is a little unconventional this time. While this story leans more toward human interest, the case at its center—the one that made national headlines—would have easily been rated a 5. That’s because today, we’re diving into the incredible story of a college student who used genetic genealogy to crack a decades-old cold case. It’s a fascinating look at the power of advanced DNA technology and the real impact it can have in solving crimes. Listen now to hear the full story.

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). It was December 2007 when 21-year-old Marshall University student Leah Hickman vanished without a trace in Huntington, West Virginia. As her family and friends desperately searched the city, police launched an investigation into her mysterious disappearance. But one week later, the search came to a devastating end – Leah’s body was discovered hidden in a crawl space beneath her apartment building. Nearly two decades later, her killer remains unknown, and justice has yet to be served. Listen now to hear the full story.

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). You may remember hearing something in the media from back in August of 2016 about a college student who attacked and killed a Florida couple in their garage. And, when police arrived to the scene, they found the student literally eating one of the victim’s faces. Now, at the time, there was a massive media frenzy that suggested the student, 19-year-old Austin Harrouff, had been high on bath salts or some other hallucinogenic drug that resulted in the bizarre, zombie-like attack. But y’all, there is SO much more to the story than that. Listen now to dive into it.

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). In 1994, the University of Kentucky was rocked by tragedy when star offensive lineman Trent DiGiuro was shot and killed while sitting on his front porch. His death sent shockwaves through the campus, leaving fear and confusion in its wake. No one saw anything, no one heard anything, besides the gunshot itself, and there seemed to be no reason – no logical motive – for the senseless act. Ultimately, it would take years before the truth would even begin to unravel. Listen now to hear the full story.

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). In the spring of 2008 at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, life was bustling and students were deep in their studies. Among them, was 22-year-old Eve Carson, a vibrant senior and the student body president, known for her leadership and passion as she juggled a double major in political science and biology. Eve was a source of inspiration for many on campus, leaving an indelible mark on her fellow students and community. But on March 5, 2008, tragedy struck when Eve was kidnapped, robbed, and fatally shot by two strangers, forever altering the fabric of the university. Listen now to hear Eve Carson's story.

I'm extending my break through the end of the year. But don't worry, Campus Crime Chronicles will return in January 2025. Until then, I want to wish all my listeners a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and peace in the new year.

Special announcement for the month of November.